Cornell University’s New Psychology of Leadership Certificate Program Translates Top Behavioral Research Into Proven Framework for Leadership Success

Released: 03/28/2017

— First program of its kind gives professionals actionable steps to influence behavior, motivation and results —

March 28, 2017 (Ithaca, NY) – Great leaders vary in style, but they all possess one critical skill: the ability to understand what drives and motivates people, and to use this knowledge to influence behavior across an organization. Yet most personality-based leadership training today leaves professionals struggling to define exactly how to do this. Now, Cornell University is offering a new, all-online certificate in the Psychology of Leadership, a program that distills complex leadership behaviors and 50-plus years of empirical research into a concrete set of tools professionals can use to cultivate their ability to influence and lead in all settings.

“Professionals have limited time for development and it’s not practical for them to try everything to find what works. This new program is the result of a lifetime of work, rendering a broad range of behavioral theories and research down to a set of 15 to 20 core ideas that reap results quickly, across multiple contexts,” said Allan Filipowicz, Ph.D., program author and award-winning clinical professor of management and organizations at Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business.

The first program of its kind, the Psychology of Leadership certificate consists of six highly interactive online courses that can be completed over three months with three to five hours of study per week in an engaging, small-class setting. Each course systematically unpacks key behaviors like goal setting, managing personal and team performance, emotional intelligence, and influencing others. Filipowicz uses practical frameworks and tools—worksheets, physical activities, and simulations—to provide students with a visceral understanding of the concepts. And once they have the personal experience of doing, students can more easily move concepts into the workplace as well as teach those skills to their teams.

Students also benefit from Professor Filipowicz’s diverse academic and professional background; he teaches MBA students and global executives, has worked in both finance and consulting, and holds advanced degrees in engineering, international affairs, social psychology, business, and organizational behavior.

One of 12 Leadership and Strategic Management certificates offered by eCornell, Psychology of Leadership is relevant for all professionals, regardless of level, industry, or sector, and ideal for current leaders seeking to improve personal and team performance. It’s also an essential program for organizations to use in developing new leaders and managers, and for anyone who needs to get things done through others. Students who complete this program receive a professional certificate from Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business.

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About Cornell University’s Johnson SchoolThe Johnson School at Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business is a leader in innovative business education. Consistently ranked as one of the top business schools in the world, Johnson offers seven MBA programs, spanning the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Mexico, and China, and in collaboration with Cornell Tech and Weill Medicine in New York, Queens University in Canada, and Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

Johnson is home to the renowned academic journal Administrative Science Quarterly; its more than 100 faculty members conduct award-winning research, educate more than 1250 MBA and PhD students each year, and work with companies throughout the world to provide executive education courses that are customized to meet their business needs.About eCornellAs Cornell University’s online learning subsidiary, eCornell delivers online professional certificate courses to individuals and organizations around the world. Courses are personally developed by Cornell faculty with expertise in a wide range of topics, including hospitality, management, marketing, human resources and leadership. Students learn in an interactive, small cohort format to gain skills they can immediately apply in their organizations, ultimately earning a professional certificate from Cornell University. eCornell has offered online learning courses and certificate programs for 15 years to over 130,000 students at more than 2,000 companies.